Effect of arachis oil on the conservation of heavily wilted herbage ensiled in plastic containers. II. Fate of the arachis oil and its effect on the rumen volatile fatty acids of sheep

Arachis oil was added to heavily wilted ryegrass at a mean level of 4 · 16 % of the total ensiled dry matter. Gas-liquid chromatography of the lipid extract was used to investigate possible chemical changes in the ensiled oil. The data obtained suggest that little degradation of the acids occurred. The percentage of linolenic acid increased and this was accompanied by a decrease in the percentage of linoleic acid and oleic acid. The presence of the oil decreased the volatile fatty acid content of the silage. There were no significant differences in the pH or the proportion of volatile fatty acids present in the rumen liquor of sheep fed the oil-treated silage compared with those in the rumen liquor of sheep fed control silage.